ANN ARBOR—The University of Michigan School of Social Work‘s Family Assessment Clinic has received a two-year grant of $144,190 from the Hasbro Children’s Foundation for a pilot program in Washtenaw and Lenawee counties that provides early assessment of serious cases of child maltreatment.

According to Kathleen Coulborn Faller, U-M professor of social work and director of the Family Assessment Clinic, the goal of the program is to “identify situations and solutions early enough so that children will have a greater probability of remaining with their families and receiving good quality care from their parents.”

In addition to early assessment, the program provides ongoing consultation for children and their families—all first-time referrals to Child Protective Services for abuse and neglect—both to determine the efficacy of the Clinic’s recommendations and to help caseworkers address additional problems families may encounter.

Faller says that the program’s regional findings should be of value in eventual applications to other communities and are likely to be useful to local and regional agencies interested in improving child welfare policies and practices.

Founded in 1985, the Family Assessment Clinic is a multidisciplinary team that provides evaluation, treatment and consultation on complex child maltreatment cases. It also serves as a venue for clinical training and the development of knowledge, educational materials and research related to child maltreatment and child welfare.

The Hasbro Children’s Foundation, founded in 1984, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for disadvantaged children, their families and their communities across the country. To achieve the greatest impact, the foundation focuses grant support on the development and expansion of model programs that address the needs of young children in health, education and social services.